Sabres 4, Predators 1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Buffalo Sabres center Sam Reinhart took a penalty that put his team in an early hole, but he more than made up for it.
Recording the first two-goal game of his career, Reinhart helped Buffalo knock off the Nashville Predators 4-1 Saturday night at Bridgestone Arena.
Reinhart put his team ahead to stay late in the second period with the second goal of a five-minute power play, then added insurance 58 seconds into the third period as his point-blank attempt slipped behind goalie Juuse Saros and barely trickled over the goal line.
It was the second win after a six-game losing streak for the Sabres (10-12-2), who got 28 saves from goalie Chad Johnson (6-7-1). Center Ryan O'Reilly finished the scoring with an empty-net tally at 17:47.
Nashville (12-7-4) lost for the fifth time in six games, spoiling the NHL debut of Saros. The 20-year-old Finn, called up earlier Saturday, collected 20 saves.
The Predators’ goal-scoring woes continued. They have netted just six goals in their recent skid, going more than 227 minutes at one point without a goal before center Mike Fisher scored in the first period of a 3-2 win Wednesday night in Buffalo.
Nashville opened the scoring at 11:42 of the first period as center Mike Fisher tallied his fifth goal of the season four seconds into a power play. Left winger James Neal had the setup as Buffalo couldn't control the puck after winning a faceoff.
The Sabres took the lead with two power-play goals late in the second period after left winger Viktor Arvidsson, whose marker two minutes into the period was waved off because of interference on center Cody Hodgson, drew a five-minute major and game misconduct for cross-checking defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo at 11:43.
Left winger Jamie McGinn potted the equalizer off a scramble in front of goalie Juuse Saros at 13:09 for his fourth goal. Reinhart snapped the tie at 16:13 with a wrister for his fifth goal.
NOTES: Buffalo D Mark Pysyk (bone bruise) and C Tyler Ennis (upper-body) missed their sixth and third games, respectively. ... Nashville placed C Paul Gaustad and RW Gabriel Bourque on injured reserve (upper-body), recalling LW Viktor Arvidsson and G Juuse Saros from Milwaukee of the American Hockey League. ... Predators backup G Carter Hutton (lower-body) was scratched as were Ds Anthony Bitetto and Victor Bartley. ... Sabres scratches were D Mike Weber and LW Johan Larsson.